312 LANGUAGE OF THE HORSE. 



before coming into my possession, but had, in one case at least, 

 kicked a buggy into smithereens. She, however, was a very 

 sagacious animal, and soon learned just what I desired of her, 

 and with kind and rational usage she proved willing at all times 

 to comply with the demands made upon her. While driving this 

 mare towards home one evening hitched to a farm lumber 

 wagon loaded with barrels on end with a board seat and cush- 

 ion on top, with my feet resting on the fore end-board — or end 

 gate — and while on the shore road of Lake Yforden in South 

 Kingston, B. I., at quite a round trot — say ten miles per hour 

 — she suddenly, from some slight and unexpected fright, 

 sprang from the middle to one side of the road with a cat-like 

 quickness. This quick movement threw me from my high and 

 insecure position off on to the ground, and at least one wheel 

 ran over my body. I was very badly hurt by the fall and the 

 wheel, and unable to either regain my former seat or to walk 

 home unaided, but this intelligent mare waited for me to tie up 

 the lines, put the seat and cushion aboard, and get hold of the 

 hind end of the wagon with my hands, and then she walked 

 slowly every step of the way home, something like a mile and 

 a half. 



In 1862 I owned a chestnut mare by the name of Lady 

 Barebones, a daughter of old Yermont Black Hawk. This 

 mare was bred and for several years owned by the Messrs. 

 Goddard of Providence, E. I., and Avas formerly driven by them 

 in Providence. Several years after they had disposed of her, 

 and on my driving her for the first time into Providence,' while 

 on South Main Street, much to my surprise, she pulled up to 

 the curb-stone and cramped the buggy for me to get out at the 

 office of her former owner and master. It is probable that five 

 years had elapsed since she had been driven on that street. 



Fanny Fern is the next of my own animals that I will men- 

 tion in this connection. She was a bay mare with two white 

 ankles and a stripe in her face. She was bred in the State of 

 New York, and sired by Imported Consternation, consequently 

 was half thoroughbred. This was one of the brood mares I 



